Dial feed die arrangement for forming compression fittings

ABSTRACT

The disclosure pertains to a compression fitting for connecting conduit to outlet boxes and the like in which the body member is made by a series of press forming operations on a tubular blank to define a central upset portion having a hex configuration, and roll formed threaded end portions of different external diameters in which the diameter of the tubular blank is equivalent to the pitch diameter of the large end of the completed body member, and an indentation is rolled into the blank adjacent its smaller end to define the maximum throat size of the fitting and a stop for the conduit when received in the body member larger end. In making the body member, the blank is made from mild steel tubing fed through a cut off machine in which the indentation is rolled into the tubing and the blank is formed by severing same from the tubing to include the indentation located adjacent one end of same, the ends of the blank are deburred, the said one end of the blank is necked down to approximately the indentation, the blank is upset intermediate its ends to define the hex configuration, and then the threads are rolled into the blank ends, after which the body member is suitably coated. The reduced end of the body member receives a conventional box engaging lock nut while the larger body member end is equipped with a clamp nut and cooperating gland for fixing the conduit to the fitting. Also disclosed is a special die arrangement for necking down and upsetting the fitting body member.

United States Patent Rudolph et al.

[ 51 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] DIAL FEED DIE ARRANGEMENT FOR FORMINGCOMPRESSION FITTINGS [72] Inventors: Nathan H. Rudolph, 830 W. DivisionSt., Aurora; Ronald G. Boyd, 405 Lakelawn Blvd., Galva, both of 111.61434 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 72,231

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 781,188, Dec. 4,1968,

Pat. No. 3,616,522.

[52] US. Cl ..113/1 G, 72/356, 72/358, 72/404 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2ld 19/08[58] Field of Search ..113/1 G; 72/356, 358, 404; 29/564, 565, 40

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,654 9/1935 Hothersall..113/1 G Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Att0rneyMann, Brown,McWilliams & Bradway [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure pertains to acompression fitting for connecting conduit to outlet boxes and the likein which the body member is made by a series of press forming operationson a tubular blank to define a central upset portion having a hexconfiguration, and roll formed threaded end portions of difierentexternal diameters in which the diameter of the tubular blank isequivalent to the pitch diameter of the large end of the completed bodymember, and an indentation is rolled into the blank adjacent its smallerend to define the maximum throat size of the fitting and a stop for theconduit when received in the body member larger end. In making the bodymember, the blank is made from mild steel tubing fed through a cut offmachine in which the indentation is rolled into the tubing and the blankis formed by severing same from the tubing to include the indentationlocated adjacent one end of same, the ends of the blank are deburred,the said one end of the blank is necked down to approximately theindentation, the blank is upset intermediate its ends to define the hexconfiguration, and then the threads are rolled into the blank ends,after which the body member is suitably coated. The reduced end of thebody member receives a conventional box engaging lock nut while thelarger body member end is equipped with a clamp nut and cooperatinggland for fixing the conduit to the fitting. Also disclosed is a specialdie arrangement for necking down and upsetting the fitting body member.

2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PMENTEDSEP 5 I972 SHEET 1 BF 4 FIG.

NATHAN H. RUDOLPH RONALD G. BOYD 2W amw ATTORNEYS PATENTEnsEr' 519123,688,717

sum 2 or 4 F168. 7 INVENTORS NATHAN H. RUDOLPH RONALD G. BOYD ATTORNEYSPATENTEDSiP 5 I972 SHEET 0F 4 INVENTORS NATHAN H. RUDOLPH RONALD G BOYDBY 77/amn ATTORNEYS DIAL FEED DIE ARRANGEMENT FOR FOG COMPRESSIONFITTINGS This application is a division of our copending applicationSer. No. 781,188, filed Dec. 4, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,616,522,granted Nov. 2, 1971.

This invention relates to compression fittings for connecting EMT orthin wall conduit to outlet boxes and the like, and more particularly,to a compression fitting in which the body member is formed from tubestock, and a method of making same.

I-Ieretofore, compression fitting body members have been formed byemploying die casting techniques or by deep drawing a flat blank, whichinvolve sophisticated tooling, expert handling, and significant materialwastage.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a method of makingcompression fittings from tube stock which substantially eliminateswastage and permits the use of simplified tooling.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a compressionfitting arrangement in which the body member is fabricated from tubestock by simplified and labor saving procedures.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a method of making thebody member of compression fittings that is composed of simplified pressforming steps which involve no significant material wastage, to providea method of making compression fittings that is readily adapted foreconomical mass production purposes, to provide a die arrangement thatis especially adapted for press forming the fitting body member, and toprovide a compression fitting that is economical of manufacture,convenient to apply, and long lived in use.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings in which like reference numerals indicate likeparts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an outlet box having the compression fitting ofthis invention and a length of EMT applied thereto for the purpose ofsecuring EMT (or thin walled conduit) to the box;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the parts of the fitting, thebox wall to which the same is clamped, and the end of the conduit thatis applied thereto;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the fitting as applied to the conduitend, with the box wall and lock nut omitted;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the initial blank forming operationsin which the tube stock from which the fitting body member blank isformed is processed to define the blank;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the blank as formed by performingthe steps illustrated by FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the blank shown in FIG. 5, on a somewhatenlarged scale;

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates the next step of the method in whichthe ends of the blank are deburred, with the blank being shown insection and the deburrin g tools being shown in elevation;

FIG. 8 is a fragmental view of one end of the fitting showing thechamfered inner edge surface that is formed by the step of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view, partially in elevation,illustrating the die arrangement that is employed to neck down one endof the blank and upset the mid portion of the blank to define the hexshaped mid portion of same;

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the shaping that the blank takes in goingthrough the two stage shaping procedure GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referencenumeral 10 of FIG. 1 generally indicates the compression fitting of thisinvention applied to an outlet box 12 for the purpose of securing tosame conduit 14.

The box 12 is entirely conventional in nature and is intended torepresent any standard form of outlet box, switch box, and otherstructures of this character to which the fitting 10 can be applied. Box12 includes bottom wall 16 and side walls 18 formed with the familiarknock outs 20, each of which, when removed,

defines box opening 22 (FIG. 2) to which the fitting I0 is applied.

The fitting 10 generally comprises a tubular body member 24 definingthreaded end portions 26 and 28 separated by a hex shaped median portion30 defining a rounded flange portion 31 formed with the usual planarsurfaces 32 adapted for applying a suitable holding tool to the bodymember 24 for holding same against movement when applying the bodymember to the box 12.

The body member 24 is further formed to define an annular indentation34, forming annular ridge 35 inside same, and chamfered surfaces 36 and38 at the ends thereof.

Associated with the smaller end portion 26 of the body member 24 is aconventional box wall engaging lock nut 40, which is turned onto thebody member end portion 26 after same has been received in an opening 22of the box 12 to clamp the box wall involved against the body memberflange portion 31, and the end 28 of the body member is proportioned toreceive the end 42 of the conduit 14, which as shown in FIG. 3, abutsagainst the annular ridge 35, which thus forms a stop for the conduit.Also associated with the fitting 10 are a contractable gland element 44,split as at 46, which in its uncontracted relation loosely fits over theexterior surface 48 of the conduit end 42, and which has a sphericallycontoured peripheral surface 50 for cooperation with champher 38 ofmember 24 and camming surface 52 of a clamp nut 54 that is threaded ontothe end portion 28 of the fitting body member 24. Gland element 44 inapplication is lodged in annular recess 55 defined by nut 54 between itssurface 52 and its threaded portion 57.

The fitting 10 may be employed to attach the conduit 14 to a box, suchas box 12, by first removing an appropriate knock out 20 to open adesired opening 22, after which the body member 24 is inserted into theopening 22 and the nut 40 turned on to the end portion 26 of the bodymember 24 to clamp the box wall between it and the -body member flangeportion 31, which is formed to define a clamping wall 56 that serves asan abutment surface for this purpose. The nut 54 and the gland 44are-then applied in that order to the end 42 of the conduit 14, and theconduit end 42 is inserted within the body member 24 to the positionindicated in FIG. 3, after which the clamping nut 54 is drawn againstand turned onto the body member end portion 24 to cam the gland element44 into clamping relation with the conduit at its edges 58 and 59, thisaction closing same firmly about the conduit to securely hold theconduit within the fitting. The gland 44 is proportioned to pass readilythrough the threaded portion 57 of nut 54 into its recess 55 when thelatter is brought against the body member for application thereto.

The lock nut 40 may take the form of any conventional lock nut suitedfor the indicated purpose. Nut 54 is preferably formed from steel by asuitable screw machine operation. Gland 44 may be of any conventionalmetal or plastic element of the configuration indicated that will servethe clamping function described.

The body member 24 is preferably made by the practice of the methodillustrated in conjunction with FIGS. 4 12.

METHOD OF MAKING THE FITTING Referring now to FIGS. 4 12, the fittingl0, and more specifically, the body member 24 thereof, is made inaccordance with this invention from tube stock in the form of mild steeltubing, following the procedure indicated in FIGS. 4 12, in accordancewith which a blank 60 FIG. 5) is formed from a length of tube stock 61and has indentation 34 rolled therein, after which the ends 62 and 64 ofthe blank are deburred (FIG. 7); the blanks 60 are thenconsecutively'applied to one of a series of lower die plate structuressuitably mounted on a rotating platform 68 of a dial feed type diearrangement 66 to consecutively pass under a pair of upper die heads 72and 78 (FIG. 9) which consecutively neck down the end 62 of the blank toapproximately the area of the groove 34, as indicated at 80 of FIG. 10,and upset the blank 60 at its mid portion to define the hex surfacedefining flange portion 31 (see FIG. 1 l

Thereafter, the ends 62 and 64 are provided with external threads by asuitable thread rolling machine operation, after which the thus formedbody member is provided with a suitable protective coating, as byelectroplating with zinc following any suitable electroplatingprocedure.

Referring back now more specifically to FIG. 4 of the drawings, inperforming the groove forming and blank cutting steps, the end 63 of thetube stock 61 from which the blank is formed is sequentially fed througha rotating chuck structure 90, past a rotatably mounted severing orcutting blade 92 and a rotatably mounted rolling blade 94, which performthe blank rolling and cutting functions indicated. The diagrammaticillustration of FIG. 4 represents a conventional cut off machine such asthat made by Barton & Oliver, in which the blade 92 is joumaled betweenthe arms 95 and 96 of a suitable head structure suitably actuated, as bya suitable hydraulic cylinder device or other conventional and suitablemeans for mechanically, hydraulically and/or pneumatically. actuatingsame to move the blade 92 toward and away from the tube stock in themanner indicated by arrow 98. Blade 92 is shaped as at 100 in accordancewith standard practices to sever a blank 60 from tube stock 61 when thetube stock 61 is rotated and blade 92 is pressed against same.

Similarly, blade 94 is joumaled as at 102 between the arms 104 and 106of a suitable head structure actuated by a suitable hydraulic cylinderdevice to move toward and away from the tube stock 61 in the mannerindicated by arrow 108. Blade 94 is formed with a convexly roundedperiphery 110 proportioned to define the indentation or groove 34 whensuitably pressed against the tube stock 61 while it is rotating.

The tube stock 61 in accordance with this invention has an outerdiameter that is equivalent to the pitch diameter of the threadingapplied to the larger end portion 64 of the blank, and has an internaldiameter to closely receive and substantially complement the outerdiameter of a standard size of EMT, as indicated in FIG. 3.

In performing the operations illustrated by FIG. 4, the cut off machineis operated to advance and position the end 63 of the bar stock 61 whereshown in FIG. 4 relative to chuck 90 and rotated, after which the grooveforming blade 94 is pressed against the tube stock 61 with sufficientpressure to define indentation or groove 34 as well as ridge 35circumferentially of the tube stock as same rotates, the minimuminternal diameter of which (indicated at 35 in FIG. 3) defines themaximum throat size of the fitting. The pressures required will dependupon the specific materials and sizes being processed and can bedetermined in accordance with any conventional procedure used forperforming a deformation of this type.

When the formation of groove 34 is nearing completion circumferentiallyof the tube stock, the cutting blade 92 is advanced against the tubestock 61 to sever the blank 60 from same, as at 112. After the groove 34is completed, the blade 94 is withdrawn from the tube stock, while thecutting blade 92 remains in position to complete its cutting operation.The result is the formation of the blank 60 in the form shown in FIGS. 5and 6, in which the ends 62 and 64 of the blank are left with a raggedinner edge where indicated at 114, which is eliminated by the practiceof the chamfering step shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, blanks 60 in the form they appearin FIGS. 5 and 6 are then consecutively chamfered as at 36 and 38 byhaving the ends 62 and 64 applied to a pair of conically shaped grindingmembers 116 and 118 rotatably mounted on their respective shafts 118 and120 that may be retracted and advanced in accordance with the respectivearrows 122 and 124.

The chamfering arrangement indicated in FIG. 7 is intended to representa suitable chamfering machine for performing same, such as that made byPines Engineering Company, in which the blanks are stacked in a chute orway and fed one by one downwardly through the machine for application tothe rotating grinding elements 116 and 118 that are automaticallyretracted and advanced to receive a blank 60 therebetween, grind theends 62 and 64 thereof to form the chamfer 36, and

retract to permit the thus deburred blank to pass onto I the next stageof the processing procedure.

Turning now to the 'press forming die arrangement of FIGS. 9 and 12, thelower die plate structures 70 each comprise a stepped diameter mandrel130 positioned within an annular holder 132 defining a bore 134proportioned to substantially complement the shank portion 136 of themandrel 130. The mandrel 130 is shaped to define end portion 137 of areduced diameter which is equivalent to the inner diameter of the end 64of blank 60 while the bore 134 of element 132 has a diameter equivalentto the outer diameter of the blank end 64.

The holder 132 is received within mounting element 138 that is securedto platform 68 by appropriate bolts 140. Received about the upper end ofholding element 132 is centering element 142.

One or more alignment pins 144 may be applied between the mountingmember 138 and the platform 68 for die alignment purposes.

Platform 68 carries plate structure 146 that supports the mandrels 130and their respective lower die plate structures 70 in the operatingposition shown in FIG. 9.

The respective blanks 60 as they emerge from the chamfering procedure ofFIG. 7 are consecutively applied to the respective lower die platestructures 70 at a suitable position in advance of the position ofoperation of the upper die plate structures 72 and 78, with respect tothe circumference of the platform 68. At the operating position of upperdie plate structure 72 and 78, the platform 68 passes over a suitableabutment structure 148 that supports the platform 68 when the upper dieplate structures-are applied in the manner indicated in FIG. 9.

As indicated in FIG. 9, the individual blanks 60 are applied to therespective lower die plate structures 70 with their ends 64 receivedover the end portions 137 of the mandrels 130, and within the spacedefined by such end portions 137 and the respective bores 134 of holdingelements 132, the end 64 of the element 60 resting on the shoulder 150that is defined by the mandrel 130 at its end portion 137.

The upper die plate structures 72 and 78 are structurally united in anysuitable manner and are connected to a common hydraulically operatedhead structure of any suitable type. The die plate structures 72 and 78are spaced apart circumferentially of the platform 68 to be aligned withtwo adjacent lower die plate structures 70 to simultaneously perform thetwo indicated press forming operations of FIG. 9.

The upper die plate structure 72 comprises a die plate 152 formed withan annular forming surface 154 and is suitably secured within holdermember 156 that is clamped to a suitable mounting plate structure 158 byclamp member 160 under the action of suitable securing bolts 162.

The forming surface 154 of die plate 152 is shaped to reduce or neckdown the end 62 of blank 60 to the configuration indicated in FIG. 10.Associated with die plate 152 is an ejector member 164 that slidablyengages within the forming surface 154 and is biased by suitablecompression spring 166 to engage its shoulder 168 with the back side 170of the die plate 152 in the retracted position of the die platestructure 72. Spring 166 suitably seats within a bore 172 formed in theejector member and against spring seat 176 that is suitably positionedagainst mounting plate 158.

The upper die plate structure 78 comprises a shaping die plate 180(defining a hex shaped shaping surface 181) secured to annular die platemember 182 as by appropriate screws 184, which is in turn affixed to theupper die plate mounting member 186 by appropriate bolts 188. Fixedwithin the die plate member 182 is annular guide element 190 defining abore 192 having a diameter equivalent to the outer diameter of thenecked down surface 194 of blank end 62. Mounted within the bore 192 ofmember 190 is thrust member 196 having an annular stem portion 198, theouter diameter of which is substantially equivalent to the diameter ofbore 192, and which slidably receives the head portion 200 of a mandrel202 that is fixedly mounted within mounting structure 186, as bysuitable set screws 204.

Die structure 78 includes one or more stripping pins 206 that areoperated to engage the thrust member 196, and that are simultaneouslythrust downwardly on withdrawal of the die plate structure 78 to ejectthe upset blank from guide member 190 after the press forming action ofthe upper die plate structure 78 has been completed.

As indicated, the upper die plate structures 72 and 78 are united in anysuitable manner to form a composite upper die plate structure that hasbeen generally designated as 210, which in turn is affixed to theoperating head of a suitable hydraulic cylinder device for forcing thecomposite die plate structure 210 downwardly against the lower die platestructures positioned under same with sufficient force to perform thepress forming operations indicated.

In operation, the dial feed arrangement of FIGS. 9 and 12 contemplatesthat the individual blanks 60 will be applied in a consecutive manner ata station, such as that indicated at 212 of FIG. 12, with the platform68 being rotated in an intermittent manner to a press forming station atwhich the composite upper die head structure 210 operates, such as whereindicated at 214 in FIG. 12. As a lower die plate structure 70 carryinga blank 60 in the manner indicated in FIG. 9 reaches the first position216 of station 214, and platform 68 is at rest momentarily to hold theindicated lower die plate structure 70 in that position, the compositeupper die plate structure 10 is lowered to bring the forming member 152into forming engagement with the end 62 of blank 60 in the mannerindicated in FIG. 9 to shape the blank 60 as indicated in FIG. 10,whereupon the head structure 210 is withdrawn, with ejector member 164under the action of spring acting to insure that the die plate structure70 passes freely from the blank 60 without disturbing the position ofsame.

The platform 68 is then actuated to move the lower die plate structure70 in question to position 218 of station 214, this action alsopositioning the next succeeding lower die plate structure at position216. When movement of platform 68 is again momentarily ceased, thecomposite die plate structure 210 is lowered to perform the indicatedpress forming operations on the blank 60 being processed; in the case ofthe upper die plate structure 78, the necked down end portion 62 isreceived within the bore 192 of holding member 190, and as the die platestructure 78 continues to lower, the

terminal end portion 220 of the blank is engaged by the annular stemportion 198 of thrust member 196, which presses the blank end portion 62downwardly, upsetting same as at 222 outwardly thereof into engagementwith the hex configuration forming surface 181 of shaping member 180.The parts of the upper die plate structure 78 are so proportioned thatwhen shaping plate member 180 engages the lower die plate structure 70beneath same, the upsetting deformation of the blank indicated in FIG. 9has been completed to define the fitting blank hex shaped portion 30.

On withdrawal of the composite head structure 210, stripping pins 206are operated by suitable hydraulic mechanisms or the like to forcethrust member 196 downwardly and effect ejection of the blank 60 fromholding member 190 and shaping member 18f). The ejected blanks arepicked up in any suitable manner for further processing.

Platfonn 68 may be automatically operated in any suitable manner tointermittently rotate same in the time sequence indicated to permitmanual application of the individual blanks 60 at the station 212 andthe press forming functions that are indicated for the positions 216 and218 of station 214.

The blanks when ejected from die plate structure 78 having theconfiguration indicated in FIG. 11 and at this point the ends 62 and 64are threaded by a suitable rolling machine operation, a Reed threadrolling machine being adequate for this purpose. The ends 62 and 64 ofthe blank 60 may be threaded simultaneously or sequentially in anydesired order, which provides the fitting body member indicated in FIGS.1 3, that is then suitably coated with a protective finish, as alreadyindicated.

As previously indicated, the blank is formed from tube stock having anouter diameter that is the same as the pitch diameter of the threads atthe blank end 64. The pitch diameter referred to is indicated by thedimension A of FIG. 3 relative to the major and minor diameters of thethreading of blank end 64, indicated by dimensions B and C respectively;thus, if circles were drawn with the dimensions A, B and C, the circledefined by the dimension A would be half way between the circles definedby the dimensions B and C.

The significance of this is that the formation of the threading byrolling presses the material of the blanks 60 radially outwardly to formthe major diameter of the threads, with the minor diameter of thethreads being defined by indentations formed in the blank. Thus theexternal surface of the blank is not cut away to define the screwthreads, making it possible to use tube stock of minimum OD size andthickness. The thread rolling machine procedure avoids cutting and thussaves material; further, it is a faster way of forming threading thancutting type threading procedures. In any event, this invention permitsthe fitting body member 24 to be formed from tube stock having an OD nolarger than the pitch diameter of the threading for the larger end 64 ofthe blank.

In a commercial form, the pitch at the blank end 62 is 14 threads perinch while at the end 64 the pitch is 18 threads per inch. The fillingis made in sizes ranging from one half inch to two inches diameter thepitch diameter of the blank end 64) in one half inch steps forapplication to conduit of corresponding size.

hardware to perform the method. The method steps indicated may obviouslybe performed by comparatively unskilled help, as compared to complex diecasting and deep drawing apparatus. The only material wasted frompractice of this method is that removed by the cutting of the blank fromthe tube stock and the chamfering at 36 and 38 in deburring the blank.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will beable to make modifications and variations therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a dial feed die arrangement for forming, from a fitting blank ofcircular transverse cross sectional configuration, the body member of acompression fitting, said arrangement comprising:

a rotatable platform,

a plurality of lower die plate structures mounted about said platform inequally spaced relation,

said lower die plate structures each comprising:

an upstanding stepped diameter mandrel having a lower shank portion andan upper end portion proportioned to substantially complement andreceive one end of the fitting blank and defining an external abutmentshoulder spaced below said mandrel end portion against which the fittingblank said one end is adapted to abut,

said shoulder merging into said mandrel shank portion,

a tubular holder received over said mandrel and having an internaldiameter substantially complementing the external diameter of saidfitting blank one end,

with said holder being fixed relative to said platform and beingreceived about and substantially complementing said mandrel shankportion and extending above said shoulder to define a space to receivethe fitting blank said one end,

said mandrel and holder being in fixed relation relative to each other,

a reciprocating upper die structure positioned over the path of movementof the lower die plate structures and comprising first and second dieplate structures spaced circumferentially of said platform to bevertically aligned with a pair of adjacent lower die plate structureswhen disposed beneath same and presented to the respective lower dieplate structures in that order,

said upper die structure being located at a press forming stationthrough which said lower die plate structures consecutively pass onrotating of said platform in a forward direction,

said upper die structure being. located at a press forming stationthrough which said lower die plate structures consecutively pass onrotating of said platform in a forward direction,

said first upper die plate structure comprising:

an annular die plate defining a bore forming a necking down formingsurface adapted to be received over the other end of the fitting blankfor necking the fitting other end down a predetermined amount onlowering of the upper die structure,

said annular die plate being carried by said upper die structure andpositioned for alignment with said mandrel of the lower die platestructure positioned vertically below it for necking down a fittingblank other end,

said annular die plate bore, receiving an ejector member thatsubstantially complements said annular die plate bore and is adapted toengage the other end of the fitting blank being necked down,

stop means for limiting movement of said ejector member downwardly ofsaid annular die plate bore,

and resilient means biasing said ejector member downwardly of saidannular die plate for ejecting the fitting blank other end from saidannular die plate on raising of said upper die structure,

said second upper die plate structure comprising:

an annular die plate carried by said upper die structure and positionedfor alignment with said mandrel of the lower die plate structurepositioned vertically below it,

said second upper die plate structure die plate having fixed to same inaxially aligned relation thereto a shaping die plate defining a hexshaped shaping surface positioned for axial alignment with said mandrelof the lower die plate structure positioned vertically below it and toreceive the fitting blank carried thereby in spaced relation thereto,

a mandrel fixedly mounted within said second upper die plate structuredie plate in axially aligned relation thereto and having reciprocablymounted thereon an annular thrust member,

said second upper die plate structure die plate carrying an annularguide element that complementarily receives said annular thrust memberand said other end of the fitting blank in concentric superposedrelation,

means for driving said thrust member downwardly against said fittingblank other end to upset the portion of the fitting blank receivedwithin said shaping surface into hex shape forming relation therewith onlowering of the upper die plate structure,

and strip pin means operatively engaging said annular thrust member forejecting the upset fitting blank on raising of said upper die structure,

means for intermittently rotating said platform in said forwarddirection to consecutively present said lower die structures to saidstation,

and means for reciprocating said upper die structure to press formfitting blanks presented to same by the respective lower die platestructures.

2. The die arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

said shaping die plate comprises a stop plate that engages therespective lower die plate structures to define the press forming strokelimit of said upper die structure.

1. In a dial feed die arrangement for forming, from a fitting blank ofcircular transverse cross sectional configuration, the body member of acompression fitting, said arrangement comprising: a rotatable platform,a plurality of lower die plate structures mounted about said platform inequally spaced relation, said lower die plate structures eachcomprising: an upstanding stepped diameter mandrel having a lower shankportion and an upper end portion proportioned to substantiallycomplement and receive one end of the fitting blank and defining anexternal abutment shoulder spaced below said mandrel end portion againstwhich the fitting blank said one end is adapted to abut, said shouldermerging into said mandrel shank portion, a tubular holder received oversaid mandrel and having an internal diameter substantially complementingthe external diameter of said fitting blank one end, with said holderbeing fixed relative to said platform and being received about andsubstantially complementing said mandrel shank portion and extendingabove said shoulder to define a space to receive the fitting blank saidone end, said mandrel and holder being in fixed relation relative toeach other, a reciprocating upper die structure positioned over the pathof movement of the lower die plate structures and comprising first andsecond die plate structures spaced circumferentially of said platform tobe vertically aligned with a pair of adjacent lower die plate structureswhen disposed beneath same and presented to the respective lower dieplate structures in that order, said upper die structure being locatedat a press forming station through which said lower die plate structuresconsecutively pass on rotating of said platform in a forward direction,said upper die structure being located at a press forming stationthrough which said lower die plate structures consecutively pass onrotating of said platform in a forward direction, said first upper dieplate structure comprising: an annular die plate defining a bore forminga necking down forming surface adapted to be received over the other endof the fitting blank for necking the fitting other end down apredetermined amount on lowering of the upper die structure, saidannular die plate being carried by said upper die structure andpositioned for alignment with said mandrel of the lower die platestructure positioned vertically below it for necking down a fittingblank other end, said annular die plate bore, receiving an ejectormember that substantially complements said annular die plate bore and isadapted to engage the other end of the fitting blank being necked down,stop means for limiting movement of said ejector member downwardly ofsaid annular die plate bore, and resilient means biasing said ejectormember downwardly of said annular die plate for ejecting the fittingblank other end from said annular die plate on raising of said upper diestructure, said second upper die plate structure comprising: an annulardie plate carried by said upper die structure and positioned foralignment with said mandrel of the lower die plate structure positionedvertically below it, said second upper die plate structure die platehaving fixed to same in axially aligned relation thereto a shaping dieplate defining a hex shaped shaping surface positioned for axialalignment with said mandrel of the lower die plate structure positionedvertically below it and to receive the fitting blank carried thereby inspaced relation thereto, a mandrel fixedly mounted within said secondupper die plate structure die plate in axially aligned relation theretoand having reciprocably mounted thereon an annular thrust member, saidsecond upper die plate structure die plate carrying an annular guideelement that complementarily receives said annular thrust member andsaid other end of the fitting blank in concentric superposed relation,means for driving said thrust member downwardly against said fittingblank other end to upset the portion of the fitting blank receivedwithin said shaping surface into hex shape forming relation therewith onlowering of the upper die plate structure, and strip pin meansoperatively engaging said annular thrust member for ejecting the upsetfitting blank on raising of said upper die structure, means forintermittently rotating said platform in said forward direction toconsecutively present said lower die structures to said station, andmeans for reciprocating said upper die structure to press form fittingblanks presented to same by the respective lower die plate structures.2. The die arrangement of claim 1 wherein: said shaping die platecomprises a stop plate that engages the respective lower die platestructures to define the press forming stroke limit of said upper diestructure.